McCullum rues 'dumb mistakes'

Children have a certain look on their faces when they've been thoroughly scolded. It's a hangdog expression that is a mixture of embarrassment and anger. Brendon McCullum wore it when he walked into the end of day press conference.

It turned out that McCullum had a reason to look so sheepish. He and the rest of the New Zealand side had been given a stern talking to from John Wright. So much so, that McCullum didn't seem to have recovered enough to articulate it very well. "Quite rightly he [Wright] was very upset and he wasn't backward in coming forward on that, which was fair enough."

Whatever direction Wright was in, it was a better one than his batting line-up and he let them know it. "He said that we made some dumb mistakes and we continue to make dumb mistakes and that's going to put us under pressure against a good team," McCullum said. "If we're not going to learn from those mistakes then we're going to continue to have days like this. He was pretty straight up with that message."

New Zealand had themselves to blame for three of the first four wickets to fall - the last two at the top end of the eventual collapse. While Rob Nicol was the victim of a fairly good ball that lifted on him, Martin Guptill hung his bat out to a delivery he should have left, Brendon McCullum took the bait and pulled one straight to the square leg fielder who had been placed there just for him. And Ross Taylor played at a ball he could have left.

McCullum and Taylor's dismissals' were particularly disappointing because they had steered New Zealand to a position which made South Africa's decision to bowl first seem questionable. "We made two very dumb errors from our two senior batsmen and that put the rest of our line-up under pressure," McCullum said. "If you give South Africa a sniff then they go up a gear and that's what they did. It was pretty frustrating."

Even for an attack that is considered the among world's best, five wickets without conceding a run is a dreamlike effort and McCullum admitted it was a nighmare for New Zealand to witness. He avoided the real-time show but could not escape its consequences. "I saw the first couple [of wickets] after I got out and tried to take a shower to hope that things would work out okay," McCullum said. "We frittered away a great opportunity to make big runs against a very good team and I'm devastated by that. You can't walk away from that, you have to own up and make sure you do it better next time."

Accountability is something that McCullum understands. He has scored four half-centuries in the tour against South Africa so far but has failed to converted even one into a three-figure score. "Fifties and sixties aren't going to get the required runs for us so I have to be able to turn those starts into big scores," he said. "It's frustrating but I have to make sure I stand tall and continue to try to lead the batting line-up."

Part of that leadership is balancing aggression with defense, something New Zealand's batsmen are struggling to do on fairly tame surfaces. Although the Hamilton strip was tinged with green, it was by no means a pitch worthy of a score of under 200 in the first innings. "For a new batter it is testing but if you get the pace of it and get yourself in you can occupy the crease without too many demons," McCullum said.

That bodes for a tough day ahead for New Zealand as South Africa will look to make the most of the best batting conditions on the second and third days. Chris Martin picked up two wickets but there is still a massive amount of toil ahead. "We're still incredibly disappointed with our day but to take two wickets at the end, albeit a night watchman, gives us a little bit more leeway into their middle order," McCullum said. "Tomorrow morning is going to be huge, we've got to try and attack early on and knock over a couple of early, and if we can't do that then hold the run rate then if we can get a breakthrough go hard again to try and take wickets in clumps."

I, for one, am sick of McCullums empty rhetoric. He claims to be "devastated", he says you have to "own up and make sure you do better next time", yet he bats with absolutely no brain and makes the same errors consisitently. How many times will he be caught hooking, when the fielder doesn't even have to move, before it sinks in? This is why he is not, and never will, be a world class cricketer. Taylor is just as culpable, another reckless shot when a wicket had just been lost. And he is supposed to be the leader? Somehow Mark Gillespie saved the batsmens bacon, to a degree, and the top order repay him by being back in the shed before we're even in credit. Brendon McCullum doesn't understand accountability, AB de Villiers does.

dummy4fb
on March 16, 2012, 4:01 GMT

McCullum should retire from all formats of game.

dummy4fb
on March 16, 2012, 0:45 GMT

Is it time for Vettori to go and play some of the younger spinners??

Bishop
on March 15, 2012, 21:22 GMT

@kitten "NZ have never had a very strong tail in the past". What? 5 years ago NZ had the strongest lower order in world cricket...McCullum at 7, Vettori at 8, Franklin at 9 (?!) Trouble is our top order was failing so consistently that anyone who performed regularly has since been promoted.

Sasnz
on March 15, 2012, 20:56 GMT

I am glad John Wright took it out on the players...We have had weak coaches untill now...Now here is a question?? Where Is Taylor?? shouldnt he be the one facing the music infront of the Media instead of McCallum?? So much for leadership I guess!!

scrubz
on March 15, 2012, 13:33 GMT

Yes agree with Maccanui why does McCullum have to speak in riddles at the end of a press conference? or is it media spin that is supposed to confuse and baffle

dummy4fb
on March 15, 2012, 12:32 GMT

they loss to many wicket in cruiel time. thats there main weak point

wanatawu
on March 15, 2012, 12:11 GMT

I like the picture they are really peppering McCullum with the shorter stuff, last week he had a few bruisers and now here they floor him again, but, he is a fighter that's why I like him even thou i'm not a NZ fan.

kitten
on March 15, 2012, 11:42 GMT

From a clearly cricketing point of view, I feel that SA is way ahead of NZ. But before some of you start saying that NZ were a match for SA for all the first four days at Dunedin, let me remind you that SA declared their second innings, and even though some might argue that NZ had a chance of winning, it was more in SA's favour on the last day. We all saw on two occasions, in the 1st innings at Dunedin and again here how McCullum and Taylor 'self destructed' when in control. McCullum doesn't seem to get it into his head to remember this is a test match and not ODI. He and Taylor should have learnt a lesson in batting from Smith and Kallis in SA's second innings, but no, that hasn't happened, and I don't think that will as well. NZ have never had a very strong tail in the past, and this one seems to be taller. To lose 5 wickets for no run when they were cantering, is abysmal to say the least, and I feel sorry for Wright. Let's hope they try and salvage some dignity on day two.

Maccanui
on March 15, 2012, 11:15 GMT

Taylor should wear a lot of the blame, it was time to consolidate after the loss of a key wicket but he decided to play at one he didn't need to, last test was worse when he got out trying to cream a third boundary in an over. Sometimes he has no idea, it is not what you expect from a captain. Nicoll is clearly out of his depth and Williamson is not looking much better at the moment. As an aside, it would be good if McCullum just spoke plainly in his interviews rather than trying to throw in jargon and cliches to his responses the whole time, more often than not he ends up talking nonsense.

espn64046078
on March 16, 2012, 6:05 GMT

I, for one, am sick of McCullums empty rhetoric. He claims to be "devastated", he says you have to "own up and make sure you do better next time", yet he bats with absolutely no brain and makes the same errors consisitently. How many times will he be caught hooking, when the fielder doesn't even have to move, before it sinks in? This is why he is not, and never will, be a world class cricketer. Taylor is just as culpable, another reckless shot when a wicket had just been lost. And he is supposed to be the leader? Somehow Mark Gillespie saved the batsmens bacon, to a degree, and the top order repay him by being back in the shed before we're even in credit. Brendon McCullum doesn't understand accountability, AB de Villiers does.

dummy4fb
on March 16, 2012, 4:01 GMT

McCullum should retire from all formats of game.

dummy4fb
on March 16, 2012, 0:45 GMT

Is it time for Vettori to go and play some of the younger spinners??

Bishop
on March 15, 2012, 21:22 GMT

@kitten "NZ have never had a very strong tail in the past". What? 5 years ago NZ had the strongest lower order in world cricket...McCullum at 7, Vettori at 8, Franklin at 9 (?!) Trouble is our top order was failing so consistently that anyone who performed regularly has since been promoted.

Sasnz
on March 15, 2012, 20:56 GMT

I am glad John Wright took it out on the players...We have had weak coaches untill now...Now here is a question?? Where Is Taylor?? shouldnt he be the one facing the music infront of the Media instead of McCallum?? So much for leadership I guess!!

scrubz
on March 15, 2012, 13:33 GMT

Yes agree with Maccanui why does McCullum have to speak in riddles at the end of a press conference? or is it media spin that is supposed to confuse and baffle

dummy4fb
on March 15, 2012, 12:32 GMT

they loss to many wicket in cruiel time. thats there main weak point

wanatawu
on March 15, 2012, 12:11 GMT

I like the picture they are really peppering McCullum with the shorter stuff, last week he had a few bruisers and now here they floor him again, but, he is a fighter that's why I like him even thou i'm not a NZ fan.

kitten
on March 15, 2012, 11:42 GMT

From a clearly cricketing point of view, I feel that SA is way ahead of NZ. But before some of you start saying that NZ were a match for SA for all the first four days at Dunedin, let me remind you that SA declared their second innings, and even though some might argue that NZ had a chance of winning, it was more in SA's favour on the last day. We all saw on two occasions, in the 1st innings at Dunedin and again here how McCullum and Taylor 'self destructed' when in control. McCullum doesn't seem to get it into his head to remember this is a test match and not ODI. He and Taylor should have learnt a lesson in batting from Smith and Kallis in SA's second innings, but no, that hasn't happened, and I don't think that will as well. NZ have never had a very strong tail in the past, and this one seems to be taller. To lose 5 wickets for no run when they were cantering, is abysmal to say the least, and I feel sorry for Wright. Let's hope they try and salvage some dignity on day two.

Maccanui
on March 15, 2012, 11:15 GMT

Taylor should wear a lot of the blame, it was time to consolidate after the loss of a key wicket but he decided to play at one he didn't need to, last test was worse when he got out trying to cream a third boundary in an over. Sometimes he has no idea, it is not what you expect from a captain. Nicoll is clearly out of his depth and Williamson is not looking much better at the moment. As an aside, it would be good if McCullum just spoke plainly in his interviews rather than trying to throw in jargon and cliches to his responses the whole time, more often than not he ends up talking nonsense.

Erebus26
on March 15, 2012, 11:09 GMT

Pretty much like the first innings of the last test when McCullum and Taylor got out playing silly shots when well set. But other players have to take the flak too. Lets just hope the NZ bowling attack can put some pressure on the Saffers tomorrow...

Grutness
on March 15, 2012, 10:20 GMT

It wasn't that McCullum was tongue-tied in the press conference - "he wasn't backward in coming forward" is a common New Zealand idiom meaning someone was outspoken or brutally frank.

No featured comments at the moment.

Grutness
on March 15, 2012, 10:20 GMT

It wasn't that McCullum was tongue-tied in the press conference - "he wasn't backward in coming forward" is a common New Zealand idiom meaning someone was outspoken or brutally frank.

Erebus26
on March 15, 2012, 11:09 GMT

Pretty much like the first innings of the last test when McCullum and Taylor got out playing silly shots when well set. But other players have to take the flak too. Lets just hope the NZ bowling attack can put some pressure on the Saffers tomorrow...

Maccanui
on March 15, 2012, 11:15 GMT

Taylor should wear a lot of the blame, it was time to consolidate after the loss of a key wicket but he decided to play at one he didn't need to, last test was worse when he got out trying to cream a third boundary in an over. Sometimes he has no idea, it is not what you expect from a captain. Nicoll is clearly out of his depth and Williamson is not looking much better at the moment. As an aside, it would be good if McCullum just spoke plainly in his interviews rather than trying to throw in jargon and cliches to his responses the whole time, more often than not he ends up talking nonsense.

kitten
on March 15, 2012, 11:42 GMT

From a clearly cricketing point of view, I feel that SA is way ahead of NZ. But before some of you start saying that NZ were a match for SA for all the first four days at Dunedin, let me remind you that SA declared their second innings, and even though some might argue that NZ had a chance of winning, it was more in SA's favour on the last day. We all saw on two occasions, in the 1st innings at Dunedin and again here how McCullum and Taylor 'self destructed' when in control. McCullum doesn't seem to get it into his head to remember this is a test match and not ODI. He and Taylor should have learnt a lesson in batting from Smith and Kallis in SA's second innings, but no, that hasn't happened, and I don't think that will as well. NZ have never had a very strong tail in the past, and this one seems to be taller. To lose 5 wickets for no run when they were cantering, is abysmal to say the least, and I feel sorry for Wright. Let's hope they try and salvage some dignity on day two.

wanatawu
on March 15, 2012, 12:11 GMT

I like the picture they are really peppering McCullum with the shorter stuff, last week he had a few bruisers and now here they floor him again, but, he is a fighter that's why I like him even thou i'm not a NZ fan.

dummy4fb
on March 15, 2012, 12:32 GMT

they loss to many wicket in cruiel time. thats there main weak point

scrubz
on March 15, 2012, 13:33 GMT

Yes agree with Maccanui why does McCullum have to speak in riddles at the end of a press conference? or is it media spin that is supposed to confuse and baffle

Sasnz
on March 15, 2012, 20:56 GMT

I am glad John Wright took it out on the players...We have had weak coaches untill now...Now here is a question?? Where Is Taylor?? shouldnt he be the one facing the music infront of the Media instead of McCallum?? So much for leadership I guess!!

Bishop
on March 15, 2012, 21:22 GMT

@kitten "NZ have never had a very strong tail in the past". What? 5 years ago NZ had the strongest lower order in world cricket...McCullum at 7, Vettori at 8, Franklin at 9 (?!) Trouble is our top order was failing so consistently that anyone who performed regularly has since been promoted.